Refrigeration apparatus



Patented Aug. 2, H932 WARREN H. F. scnmmnmo, or DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, :ay MESNE ASSIGNHENTS, TO .FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE REFRIGERATION AIPPARATUS Application filed Ianuary 25. 1926. Serial No. 83,427.

The present invention relates to refrigerating systems and more particularly to the controlling of the temperature of acompartment to be cooled.

Among the objects of the present invention is to control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator of a refrigerating system in accordance with the temperature of the medium cooled by the evaporator. One manner of carrying out this object is to provide a control device which normally controls the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator in response to the pressure within the evaporator which device has associated therewith provisions for.

impeding the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator when the temperature of the medium to be cooled attains the desired low degree.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a singlevalve for accomplishing the function stated in the foregoing object.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a-refrigerating system including a plurality of cooling compartments each of which contains an'evaporator in which the flow of refrigerant to said evaporators is controlled by the pressures Within the evaporators, and, in wh1ch the temperatures of the compartments are controlled independently of one another.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view of the improved refrigerating system.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of one of being taken on the line 2'2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the main body of the valve shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Referring to the drawing; for the purpose of illustration, there is shown a cabinet 20 for maintaining ice cream or' the like in a frozen state and at 21 there is shown a cabinet 6 for cooling drinking water, carbonated water cooling cabinet.

or liquid having substantially the same freezthe valves utilized in the system, the section or the like. For the sake of clearness the cabinet 20 will be hereinafter termed ice cream cabinet and cabinet 21 will be termed The ice cream cabinet 20 is arranged to receive containers 22 or the like which are surrounded by a brine solution. An evaporator 24 is emerged in the brine and comprises a plurality of loops arranged in series relation. The outlet end of said loops isconnected with a T 25. The flow o of refrigerant to the evaporator 24 is controlled by an expansion-valve 26 of a conventional type, namely that type in which the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator is controlled in response to the pressure within the evaporator. The refrigerant is lead to tlhis valve through a pipe 27 connected with The cabinet 21 contains a quantity of water mg point as the substance to be cooled. Emerged in this water are water pipes, drinking water pipes, carbonated water pipes or the like, one of which is shown at 30. The evaporator 31 is also emerged within the water in the cabinet 21 and includes a plurality of loops connected in series relation, the outlet of-evaporator 31 is connected with the T 25. The flow of refrigerant to the evaporator 31 is controlled by a valve 33 which will be more thoroughly described hereinafter. Spaced from the evaporator 31 there is provided a container 34 ada ted to contain a quantity of liquid substantially the same characteristics as the liquid29. This container isconnected by a pipe 35 with the valve 33. The pipe 35 and the container 34 also contains a quantity of odor the like, the

-water level terminating substantially at the line indicated at the line 36.

A .compressor 40 is driven by a motor 41 through belt and pulley connections 42 43 and 44. The low side of the compressor 40 is connected with the T 25 by a pipe 46. When the compressor is operated, refrigerant will be withdrawn from the evaporators 24 and 31. Refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 40 through a pipe 48 into a condenser 49 which is in turn connected with a pipe 50 to T 28 whence refrigerant is deliv- 10c orator.

the diaphragm ered to the valves 26 and 33. The motor circuit is controlled by a switch 51 including a collapsible bellows 52 connected by a pipe 53 to a bulb containing a volatile fluid responsive to the temperatures within cabinet 20. T his switch will .complete the motor circuit when the temperature within the cabinet attains a certain high value and will interrupt the circuit when the temperature within the low pressure side attains certain low value.

The valve 33 includes a main body 55 having an inwardly extending boss 56. A diagonally disposed passage 57 connected with the ipe 27 extends into the boss 56 and is connected with a passage 58. lassages 57 and 58 rovide an inlet for the valve which inlet is controlled by a needle valve 59. Body 55 is also provided with a passage 60 connected with the evaporator 31. Needle valve 59 is carried by a yoke 62 and the yoke is carried by a diaphragm 63. The diaphragm 63 and body 55 form a compartment 64. The diaphragm is separated from surrounding atmosphere by an end cover 66 which is screw threaded to receive an adjusting nut 67 and an end cap 68. A stein 69 is carried by the diaphragm 63 and springs 70 and 71 are located on opposite sides of the nut 67 and engage the opposite ends of the stem whereby the desired tension may be maintained upon The boss 56 of the body 55 includes projecting portion 73 which is adapted to receive the pipe 35 and is provided with a laterally extending passage 75. A diaphragm 7 6 is suitably attached to the boss 56 and forms with said boss a compartment 77 which is connected with the passage 7 5. The diaphragm 76 extends toward the diaphragm 63 and carries a button 78 which is arranged to engage the yoke 62.

During normal operation the diaphragm 76 is more or less contracted and therefore out of engagement with the yoke 62. \Vhen the compressor is operating to withdraw refrigerant from the evaporators 24 and 31 the needle valve 59 is controlled by the movement of the dia hragm phragm responds to t e pressure within the compartment 64 and likewise to the pressure within the evaporator 31. Therefore, during operation of the system the valve 33 wil supply refrigerant to the evaporator 31 as it is needed. The operation of the system will cause the liquid 29 to freeze around the evap- In order to prevent allof the water from freezing and likewise freezing the substance within the coils 30 it is desirable that the heat exchanged between the evaporator and the water 29 be impeded after a certain quantity of ice is formed around the evaporator. Therefore, the container 3i is placed in a desirable position so that when the evaporator attains a certain low value,

63 which diaice will build around thecontainer 34 to freeze the liquid adjacent thereto. 'The freezing of the liquid within the container 34 will cause expansion within said container and within pipe 35, passages 74 and 75 am compartment 7 7 within this duct. This pressure will cause the diaphragm 76 to expand and the button 78 will engage the yoke 62 causing the needle valve 59 to close upon its seat and thus preventthe further iiow of refrigerant to the evaporator. Thus it is apparent that the amount of ice frozen around the evaporator 31 is limited and therefore the temperature of the liquid 29 adjacent the pipes 30 will never be decreased to such a degree as to freeze the substance within said pipes.

For the purpose of this invention, it is deemed sufiicient to state that anywalve, of the type in which the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator is controlled by the pressure within the evaporator, can be utilized as valve 26. This valve may be constructed similar to valve 33. However. the diaphragm 76 can be omitted and the passage 74 suitably plugged.

By providing structure a .relatively simple system has been rovided for a plurality of compartments to )e cooled whose temperatures may be regulated independently of one another. For example, the liquid within the cabinet 21 can be cooled to a temperature suitable for cooling beverages while the temperature within the cabinet 20 may be cooled to a relatively low degree for maintaining ice cream in a frozen state; After the water in the cabinet 21 has been dedegree and the valve 33 as herein described creased to its desired operated-to impede the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator 31, refrigeration will still take place within the evaporator 24 until the temperature decreases to .the desired low temperature.

The valve for performing the function previously stated is relatively simple in construction and can be assembled very readily. After diaphra m 76 is suitably secured to the extension 56 t e diaphragm 63 and yoke 62 is placed in position as an assembly, the yoke 62 looping over the extension 56. The needle valve 59 and the lock nut 80 are then secured in position being inserted through opening 81 within a body 55. This opening is then closed by an end cap 82.

It is to be understood that thetypes of cabinets 20 and 21 and the lquids therein are used merely for illustration purposes and can be substituted by other types of cooling compartments and liquids respectively.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that to thus increase the pressureother forms might be adopted, all coming 1. A refrigerating system comprising, in

medium to be cooled, means for withdrawing refrigerant from the evaporator and for condensingsaid refrigerant and for forcing the same into the evaporator, and valve means at the inlet of the evaporator for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said evaporator, said last means being directly responsive to the pressure within the evaporator for regulating the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator and responsive to the condition of the medium cooled by said evaporator for positively preventing the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

2. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, an evaporator for cooling the medium to be cooled, means for withdrawing Y refrigerant from the evaporator and for con- 20 d ensing said refrigerant and for forcing same into the evaporator, a valve at the inlet of the evaporator responsive to the pressure of the evaporator for controlling the flow of refrigerant thereto, and means responsive to a predetermined low temperature of the medium to be cooled for positively closing the valve to prevent the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator when the temperature of the medium being cooled attains a certain low degree.

3. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a compartment containing a quantity of liquid to be cooled, an evaporator within said compartment for freezing said liquid, means for withdrawing refrigerant from the evaporator and for condensing said refrigerant and for forcing the same into the evaporator, a valve controlling the inlet of the evaporator, and means responsive to the solidification of the liquid within the compartment for actuating said valve to restrict the flow of refrigerant therethrough.

4. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a compartment containing a quantity of liquid to be cooled, an evaporator within said compartment for freezing said liquid, means for withdrawingrefrigerant from the evaporator and for condensing said refrigerant and for forcing the same into the evaporator, a valve controlling the inlet of the evaporator, and control means including a chamber containing a quantity of liquid having substantially the same characteristics as the liquid in the compartment, said control means being subjected to thetemperature of the liquid in the compartment and responsive to the solidification of the liquid within the compartment for actuating said valve to restrict the flow of refrigerant therethrough.

5. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, a plurality of cooling compartments, one of said compartments containing a quantity of liquid, an evaporator Within each of said compartments, means common to both evaporators for withdrawing refrigerant therefrom and for condensing said rerefrigerant evaporators, tors, each of a valve for each of said evaporasaid valves being responsive to the pressure within its evaporator for controlling the flow of refrigerant thereto, means at the inlet of the evaporator in the liquid compartment responsive to a predetermined low temperature of the liquid for closing the corresponding valve, and thermostatic means in the other compartment for .controlling the operation of said common means.

6. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator; means for withdrawing refrigerant from the evaporator and for condensing said refrigerant and for forcing the same into the evaporator; and means for controlling the flow of refrigerant to said evaporator, said control means comprising a valve including a compartment having an inlet tively with the first means and the evaporator, and having a Wall adapted to be flexed in response to the pressure changes within the compartment, means associated with the flexible wall for controlling the flow of refrigerant through said compartment, said valve providing a second chamber having a wall adapted to be flexed inresponse to the pressure changes within the second compartment and associated with the flexible wall of the first compartment for preventing the flow of refrigerant through said valve, said control means also including a pressure device associated with said second compartment and responsive to the temperature of the medium cooled by said evaporator for changing the pressure in said second chamber.

7. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a compartment containing a quantity of liquid to be cooled, an evaporator within said compartment for freezing said liquid, means for Withdrawing refrigerant from the evaporator and for condensing said refrigerant and for forcing the same into the evaporator, a valve controlling the inlet of the evaporator, and means at the inlet of said evaporator responsive to the solidification of the liquid within the compartment for preventing the flow of refrigerant to the evap orator.

8. A refrigerating system comprising a closed refrigerant circuit, a control valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant in said circuit and comprising a body providing a and forcing the same into the and outlet associated respecclosed chamber, one wall of said chamber being flexible, a valve within said chamber op-- eapable of movement independently of the second flexible Wall.

9. A refrigerating system comprising a closed refrigerant circuit, a control valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant in said circuit and comprising a body providing a closed chamber, one wall of said chamber being flexible, a valve Within said chamber operatively connected with said wall, and a second chamber within said first chamber but sealed therefrom and having a flexible wall arranged to actuate the flexible wall of the first chamber, said first flexible wall being arranged so as to be capable of movement independently of the second flexible wall.

10. A refrigerating system comprising a closed refrigerant circuit. a control valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant in said circuit and comprising a body providing a closed chamber, one wall of said chamber being flexible, a valve within said chamber, a second chamber interposed between the flexible wall and the valve and having a flexible wall arranged to actuate the flexible wall of the first chamber, and means looped around said second chamber and operativelyconnected with the first flexible wall and said valve.

11. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, an evaporator for cooling a medium to be cooled, means for withdrawing refrigerant from the evaporator, condensing said refrigerant, and forcing same into the evaporator, a valve at the inletof the 'evaporator having means responsive to the pressure within the evaporator for closing the valve, said valve also having means responsive to a predetermined low temperature of the medium to be cooled for augmenting said last mentioned means for closing the valve.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto aflix my signa re.

\VARREN H. F. SCHMIEDING. 

